Henry Lee Turner never showed up to the family cookout.
It was unlike him to be a no-show. He’d never miss an event like that.
The 74-year-old was a good father and grandfather. And he was a friend to everyone, including his newest friend Stephen Stanko.
After the cookout that April night in 2005, Turner’s son Roger Turner laid down for bed.
What he saw on the 11 p.m. news put an immediate pit in his stomach.
His dad’s newest friend was wanted for the murder of a woman in Georgetown County.
A manhunt was underway.
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Henry Turner was born in Hyman, South Carolina.
As a young man, he joined the U.S. Air Corps, now known as the U.S. Air Force, and spent 20 years in the service.
Henry Turner and his former wife Shirley with their oldest child Debbie in 1956. Turner spent 20 years in the U.S. Air Force, retiring in Puerto Rico.
He traveled around the world while in the military, retiring as a master sergeant from the Air Force in Puerto Rico.
He and his former wife Shirley had three children: Debbie, Rodney and Roger. They raised their children mostly in the Florence area after Henry retired from the military.
Henry held various jobs over the years, including work in private investigation, operating a motel and as a real estate broker.
Henry was a Shriner who dressed up as a clown for parades. Roger describes his father as a “jolly type” of person.
Henry liked to enjoy alcoholic beverages. He’d always offer anyone a drink – even if they didn’t drink. In his car, he’d carry liquor bottles and would mix drinks for anyone who wanted one.
He always shared.
As a father, Henry wasn’t a super strict dad, but would discipline when he needed to.
Roger, the youngest of the Turner children, said he was raised the good ole southern way.
“That’s the way we were brought up, with manners and respect,” Roger said.
Henry Turner’s family in 1967. Turner and his former wife Shirley had three children, Debbie, Rodney and Roger.
Henry set the tone for the family, encouraging his children to be successful and overachievers, Roger said.
